When Should You Get a New Phone?

We don’t go anywhere without our phones these days — they’re an indispensable part of our daily lives. With near-constant use comes a never-ending string of bumps, drops, swipes, and wipes, each of which takes its own tiny toll on a phone’s lifespan.

Sometimes, it can be hard to answer the question of when it’s time to throw in the towel and get a new phone. Is your current phone just showing its age a bit, or should you move on to the greener pastures of a new cell phone?

If you recognize the signs that your phone may be on its last legs, you can time your upgrade to coincide with the latest iPhone release or a big sale at your favorite store. And, of course, you should always responsibly recycle your last phone with a service like ecoATM when you get a new one!

How Do You Know When It’s Time to Upgrade to a New Cell Phone?

There are a few common indicators that your current device might be reaching the end of its life cycle. Look out for these signs to make an informed decision — they can tell you when it’s time to buy a new device.

Dwindling Battery Life

If you notice a decline in your phone’s battery life, it may be nearing the end of the line as a useful smartphone. Common signs of battery degradation include your phone struggling to maintain a charge, requiring frequent recharging, and unexpectedly powering itself off. You can replace your smartphone battery, but new batteries can be expensive. And, if your device has a failing battery, chances are it also has some other problems that swapping out the battery won’t fix.

Insufficient Storage Space

Old phones don’t have as much storage as new models. If your phone is getting bogged down with too many apps, videos, photos, and music files, it might be time to upgrade. There are few things more annoying than constantly shifting files to the cloud or offloading apps — it requires quite a bit of time and effort, and it often doesn’t improve your phone’s performance as much as you’d expect. Upgrading to a new device with expanded storage space can make life much simpler.

Deteriorating Display

As your phone ages, you might start to notice things like an unresponsive touch screen, a flickering display, or “dead zones” of inactive pixels. These issues make your phone significantly less enjoyable to use, and they can also be indicators of deeper problems. Deteriorating screens are an even bigger issue on modern-day flip phones like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip series. After all, the more screens you have, the more opportunities you have for them to degrade. In short? If your screens are fading or flickering, it may be time to put your old phone out to pasture.

Slow Performance

Are apps crashing for no apparent reason? Is your phone less responsive than it used to be? Does your device lag every time you try to switch apps? These are problems that can often arise when an outdated device tries to keep up with the heavy processing demands of modern apps. If your phone is slowing down to the point that you’re losing functionality and productivity, you should at least consider upgrading to a new one.

Discontinued Software Updates

If you’ve had an older-model phone for the last few years, its manufacturer may soon discontinue software updates. Without them, you lack access to security patches that keep your device safe to use, and you won’t get to use any new features either. Your phone needs regular updates to maintain its performance and security — if your phone no longer receives software support, it may be time to move on.

When Is the Right Time to Buy a New Phone?

Timing your purchase of a new phone is almost as important as recognizing the need for an upgraded device in the first place. If you time your purchase to coincide with these events, you could pay a lower price than you might expect.

New Model Announcements

Smartphone manufacturers tend to release updated models every year. Timing your purchase to coincide with these announcements can be a big money-saver, as retailers will often offer sales on the previous models to make room in their inventories for new phones. If you don’t need the absolute latest and greatest smartphone, buying last year’s model when this year’s model is announced can be a smart plan.

Major Sales Events

Each year, there are a few significant sales that result in big markdowns across the board. For example, buying your smartphone on Black Friday or Cyber Monday could save you a bunch of money. Plan your upgrade around these major sales events to maximize your budget.

Carrier and Manufacturer Incentives

These can be less predictable than the sales events we mentioned above, but you should still look for various types of trade-in specials, bundled deals (i.e., get a free phone when you sign a new contract with your carrier), or financing offers provided by manufacturers, carriers, and retailers. These incentives might not always offer straight-up cash discounts, but they can save you money in various ways. They might also provide additional benefits to sweeten the pot, like an extended warranty or free accessories.

What to Do Before Upgrading to a New Phone

There are some common steps you should take with your current phone before you switch to your new device. By backing up your data, wiping your personal info, and resetting the device to its original factory settings, you can prepare your current device for resale while protecting your privacy and security.

Back Up Your Personal Data and Sign Out of Your Account

Perform a backup of all your data using cloud services or a local storage option (like an external hard drive). This helps make sure you don’t lose any valuable personal data in the transition between devices. If you want to keep all of your contacts, photos, save-game data, and more, you’ll want to back up your device before getting rid of it.

Also, log out of your accounts, such as your Apple Account, email, social media profiles, etc. This prevents the device’s next owner from accessing your private information.

Reset the Phone to Its Factory Settings

Next, execute a factory reset. This erases any remaining personal data from your phone, which provides two-pronged benefits. First, it ensures that you don’t have any important information lingering on the device. Second, it restores the phone to its original settings, making it easier to sell to a new owner.

Remove the SIM Card and Additional Memory Cards

Just because you backed up your data and restored factory settings to the device itself doesn’t mean all of your personal info is wiped away. Always remove the SIM card and any added memory cards, like microSD cards. A factory reset only erases data from the phone itself, and you’ll need to remove these additional components to be 100% certain that your data is safe.

What Should You Do With Your Old Phone?

So, you’ve decided to upgrade to a new phone. What comes next for your previous device? Buying a new smartphone doesn’t mean you should simply drop your old one in the trash. Consider eco-conscious recycling options to protect our environment and give your previous device a second life.

Device Trade-In Programs

Some people choose trade-in programs with manufacturers, retailers, or wireless carriers. These programs provide you with store credit that you can use toward a new device. While this is an environmentally responsible choice, we always prefer having cash in our pockets to getting store credit.

ecoATM Kiosks

With ecoATM, you can recycle your phone at one of our 6,500+ kiosks and receive a quick cash payment in return. Or, if you prefer, you can choose payment via Venmo or PayPal. Either way, ecoATM kiosks evaluate your device’s condition and resale value to determine how much to pay you. If you accept our offer, you can leave your device at the kiosk, and we’ll make sure to either recycle it or find a new owner for it.

Final Thoughts

It’s not always obvious when it’s time to upgrade to a new smartphone, but we hope the tips and tricks discussed here help you make your decision. It’s not just about “keeping up with the Joneses” — it’s about making sure your phone serves your needs, both today and into the future.

Whenever you do take the plunge and get a new phone, always responsibly recycle your old one by using a service like ecoATM. Your wallet and the environment will thank you!